Building a LEGO city is an exciting project, but it can also become overwhelming if you don’t have an efficient system for storing and organising your bricks. With thousands of tiny pieces, keeping everything in order can be the key to maintaining a smooth and enjoyable building process. By implementing the right storage solutions and setting up a functional workspace, you can streamline your building efforts and make your LEGO city-building experience even more rewarding. Here are some tips for organising your LEGO bricks so that you can build your city with ease.

1. Storage Systems: Using Bins, Drawers, and Sorting Trays

Proper storage is essential to keeping your LEGO collection organised and accessible. The best way to store your bricks is to use a combination of bins, drawers, and sorting trays to keep different types of pieces separated and easy to find. Storage options like stackable bins, drawer organisers, and even tackle boxes can help you group similar pieces together in a way that makes sense.

• Tip: Choose transparent containers whenever possible so that you can easily see what’s inside. If you’re working on a large city project, consider investing in modular storage systems with adjustable compartments. This allows you to expand or reduce the storage space as your collection grows.
• Ideas: Use a set of shallow drawers for small pieces like 1×1 bricks, studs, and tiles. Reserve larger bins for larger pieces such as baseplates, windows, and doors. Tackle boxes or small organising trays are perfect for sorting tiny accessories, like minifigure accessories, plants, and animals.

2. OPTIONAL: Sorting Bricks by Colour for Efficiency

I would never dare suggest this as ‘the’ answer, but it is for some people. Sorting your bricks by colour rather than type can be one of the most efficient ways to find exactly what you need quickly. Again, not for me but you may find it helpful. By grouping similar colours together, you can easily visualise the pieces you need for different sections of your LEGO city, whether you’re building a street, a park, or a skyscraper.

• Tip: While colour coding is great for efficiency, don’t forget to group your pieces by type as well. For example, you might store all the green bricks together but keep different shapes and sizes within that colour category so you can find the exact piece you need.
• Ideas: Full disclosure, I sort by type only. Most of the time if I don’t have a piece in my preferred colour, I will still continue building using a substitute colour so for me I sort all pieces by type regardless of their colour.

3. Workstations: Setting Up a Dedicated Building Area

A dedicated building workstation (which I no longer have) is a game changer when it comes to organising your LEGO city project. A clean, spacious area where you can sit comfortably and have easy access to all your sorted pieces will help you stay focused and productive. This area should be well-lit and free of distractions, providing a comfortable environment for you to build and organise your city.

• Tip: Set up your workstation with a large, flat surface to give you plenty of room for spreading out your pieces and building your creations. Consider investing in a table with built-in storage or additional shelves underneath to store your bins and drawers within easy reach.
• Ideas: If space is limited, use rolling carts or mobile shelving units that you can move around as needed. Keep a small sorting tray on your workstation for the pieces you’re currently using so they’re easily accessible. If you like to work with instructions or reference materials, make sure there’s space for them too. Or if you are like me, find somewhere to store your containers and then spread them across the kitchen table when it’s time to build (Bonus Tip: your significant other may not like this plan!)

What I chose to do

With my space now limited, the dedicated build table or workstation had to go. What was once a great area to spread out containers and leave half-built creations is no longer available, so I had to get more creative. I invested in a series of storage containers with multiple drawers and compartments, allowing me to sort my pieces by type. When it’s time to build, I can quickly spread them across any available space and get started.

Final Thoughts

A well-organised LEGO collection is key to building an impressive city without frustration. By using a combination of storage systems, colour coding (maybe?), and a dedicated workstation (in a perfect world), you can make your LEGO city-building process more efficient and enjoyable.

At the end of the day, find what works for you and do it.